Many vacationers cruise right through Chilliwack on the Trans Canada, in a rush to get into (or out of) Vancouver. In fact, some even consider it a part of Greater Vancouver, although it is technically a city of its own. In the Halqemeylem language of the Stó:lō, the people who originated inhabited the yet unceded …
One of the hardest parts of planning a trip to a huge city like Taipei is choosing a hotel. This is certainly the case when trying to decide where to stay in Taipei! Unlike some major Asian cities, Taipei doesn’t really have a backpacker’s street or district. Taipei’s top sights are spread out, but thankfully …
Ready for some serious heat? July in Taiwan is the hottest and sunniest month of the year. Be prepared to sweat, and to duck into every 7-Eleven you pass for an air-conditioned moment of respite. Although most Taiwanese fear the sun (“fear” is the word they really use), the Taiwanese summer is still the time …
Lima is often an afterthought on visitors’ Peru itinerary. Most pass through the Peruvian capital’s airport en route to Cusco, or spend a night in a hotel near the airport if they have to. I’m here to tell you that you absolutely should spend two days in Lima! This sprawling city was once Pizarro’s capital …
The Sacred Valley (el Valle Sagrada) is my favorite place in Peru. It is home to fantastic ruins, the starting point of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, traditional Quechua villages and markets, incredible restaurants, and adventure activities galore. The Sacred Valley is formed by the Urubamba River north of Cusco, which wraps around Machu …
Cusco is the ancient capital of the Inca empire and modern gateway to Machu Picchu. It’s no big surprise, then, that the city boasts many museums. However, the quality of these museums varies from decent to mediocre to outright bad. To make things more confusing, only some museums are included on the Cusco Tourist Pass …
When visiting Cusco and the Sacred Valley, you will most likely need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Pass, or “Boleto Turistico”. This pass is not just recommended for saving money but it’s actually the only way that you can enter some of the top things to do and ruins in the Cusco region. In total …
The Cusco Religious Circuit Ticket is a tourist pass that gives you access to three religious sights in Cusco. It used to be four sights, but one of them is currently under major renovations and is closed. These are some of the top things to do in Cusco, but there are so many more not …
Cusco is the ancient capital of the Inca empire and gateway to Machu Picchu. It is known for its Spanish convents sitting atop Inca foundations, plethora of ruins, Quechua culture, and incredible food. I had wanted to go to Cusco and Machu Picchu for over 20 years. Other things always got in the way. So …
One of my biggest surprises in Peru was just how incredible the food is. Even in the small Sacred Valley towns where I started my trip (see my favorite restaurants in Pisac and in Ollantaytambo), the food was exceptional. Moving on to Cusco, it only got better. I came to realize that 3-star quality of …
